Chargers-Redskins Final Score: Los Angeles Chargers Defeat the Washington Redskins 30-13

1st Quarter

The Chargers started the game on offense from their own 25-yard line following a touchback. Philip Rivers got the offense moving early by completing a 34-yard pass to Tyrell Williams who is way too fast to be covered by a linebacker. Melvin Gordon rushed for a short gain. Keenan Allen got them within one yard of a 1st down. And on 3rd & 1, Tyrell showed up again to move the sticks. Gordon rushed for 6 yards on his next carry. Austin Ekeler added 6 more on his first touch. Gordon then rushed for another short gain and Jeff Cumberland got involved with a reception that barely crossed the line of scrimmage. On 3rd & 8, Rivers bounced a pass intended for Ekeler off the defensive lineman’s head and was lucky to have the ball fall harmlessly to the ground. Travis Coons converted on a 33-yard field goal attempt to give the Chargers their first points on an opening drive this season.

Samaje Perine got the first carry for the Redskins picking up only a yard before being stopped by Denzel Perryman and Desmond King. On 2nd down, Kirk Cousins hooked up with Jamison Crowder across the middle for an 18-yard gain. Perine got the call again on 1st down and picked up 5. Vernon Davis took a short pass for 3 yards. Then on 3rd & 2, Perine was stopped by Perryman and Melvin Ingrm for no gain to force a punt.

Melvin Gordon opened teh drive with another run for a short gain. On 2nd down, Rivers threw the ball away in the vicinity of Gordon. On 3rd & 9 from their own 9, Rivers found Hunter Henry who appears to always be open for a 20-yard gain. An incomplete pass intended for Ekeler was followed by another chain-moving reception by Henry. Gordon rushed for 5 yards and Redskins defender Anderson gifted the Chargers another 15 yards with an unnecessary roughness penalty. Gordon rushed off tackle for 4 yards. Travis Benjamin saw his first work of the day picking up 14 yards on a pass to the right side. Josh Norman tacked on 15 more yards with a facemask. Gordon rushed for no gain again. Then Hunter Henry ran a crossing pattern and came down with a touchdown in the corner of the endzone.

On the Redskins’ next offensive play Cousins had all day but Trevor Williams broke up his pass and the trailing Kyle Emanuel intercepted it.

Rivers and the Chargers took over on the Washingtn 29. An incomplete pass was followed by a 21-yard gain by Allen. From there, the offense stalled out and had to attempt a 21-yard field goal on 4th & goal from the 3. Coons converted it.

2nd Quarter

Perine got the ‘Skins moving forward with a 4-yard gain. Ryan Grant then nearly took one to the house after Tre Boston whiffed on a tackle, but Jahleel Addae stopped him after a 28-yard gain. Perine rushed for 8 on 1st down, but was stuffed on 2nd & 2. Cousins tested the defense deep on 3rd & 2 but came up empty when Rayshawn Jenkins had the coverage. Cousins hooked up with Niles Paul on 4th down after Addae couldn’t elevate enough to break up the pass. Perine was bottled up on his next two carries, but on 3rd & 11, Ingram was stopped by a running back and Cousins bought time to find Vernon Davis in the end zone. Nick Rose then missed the point after attempt.

The Chargers responded immediately. Rivers hit Tyrell Williams in stride down the deep middle of the field and he was able to glide untouched into the endzone for a 75-yard touchdown.

Perine rushed for a total of 4 yards on two carries before Josh Doctson picked up 13 on 3rd & 6. A short run followed by a short pass set up 3rd & 4. Cousins missed Crowder to force 4th down. Then Cousins tested Jenkins deep on 4th & 4 but came up empty.

Allen made a great catch for a 16-yard gain to start the drive. Benjamin took an endaround for 22 yards up the left sideline. Ekeler rushed twice to move the sticks, then Gordon came in and was stopped for no gain. On 2nd & 10, the coverage was good and Rivers took a sack. On 3rd & 13, Henry couldn’t secure the pass and would likely have been well short of the sticks if he had. Coons then attemtped another field goal. This was from 36 yards and Coons drilled it.

Perine started the drive rushing for 10 yards. Cousins missed Davis who was open deep down the right sideline. Doctson picked up 8 yards on 2nd & 10, but on 3rd & 2, Hayward had position and the Redskins were lucky it wasn’t intercepted.

The Chargers took over after a punt at ther own 15. On 1st down, Rivers missed Gordon. On 2nd & 10, Allen picked up 15. They rushed to the line and Rivers was sacked On 2nd & 15, Gordon rushed up the middle for 10 yards. On 3rd & 5, Henry moved the chains with an 8-yard reception. On 1st down, Tyrell Williams made another big play with a 20-yard reception. On 1st down, Rivers threw the ball away. Ekeler rushed for 33 yards and failed to get down so the clock ran out.

3rd Quarter

Perine got the first touch of the second half and gained 2 yards. On his next carry, he went for 5 but appeared to hurt his leg. On 2nd & 5, Cousins was pressured and could not connect with Crowder. On 3rd & 5, Cousins scrambled but came up short of the sticks. A great punt netted 56 yards for the Redskins.

Rivers’ first pass was tipped and fell incomplete. On 2nd down, Gordon picked up 9 yards running behind Derek Watt. He picked up another 2 on 3rd & 1. On 1st & 10, Gordon ran parallel with the line of scrimmage before being tackled for only a 2-yard gain. Jeff Cumberland was unable to hold onto pass from Rivers that should have either moved the chains or set up a short 3rd down. On 3rd & 8, Benjamin was tackled short of the sticks to force a punt.

The defense followed Kaser’s 63-yard punt by forcing a three-and-out that was capped off by Melvin Ingram driving Cousins into the ground as he released his pass that landed incomplete.

Starting at their own 45, the Chargers opened the drive by handing off to Gordon for a 3-yard gain. A fleaflicker to Keenan Allen on the next play was good for 51 yards and set up 1st & goal from the 1. Gordon all but walked into the endzone on the next play.

The Redskins “responded” by going three-and-out again. The Chrgers next drive was over before it started thanks to penalties (holding by Okung and false start by Barksdale). The Redskins then went three-and-out AGAIN. This time it was Desmond King who sacked Cousins to kill the drive.

Gordon got the first carry and went for 6 yards before a defensive penalty tacked on 15 more. Gordon then rushed for 3 more yards and ended the quarter.

4th Quarter

On 3rd & 7, Benjamin dropped an incredibly routine pass that would have easily resulted in a 1st down and possibly a big gain.

Cousins hit Doctson for a 13-yard gain to start the drive. Crowder picked up 5 more. Then, Brian Quick added 7. Then, things started to go the other direction. Perine was dropped for a loss of 4 by Adrian Phillips. Corey Liuget and Melvin Ingram combined on a sack that lost 9 yards. On 3rd & 23, Crowder picked up 11 yards and the Redskins had to punt.

At that point, the Chargers sat Rivers to protect him and brought in Kellen Clemens to help run out the clock. Travis Benjamin had a nice punt return. And the Redskins returned an interception for a touchdown. Nothing much else happened.